“My dear girl, don’t be alarmed, these men have nothing to fear and everything to hope from me. By this time they must have found it practically impossible to dispose of the stolen property, and must be in hourly dread of the police. Now, I can hush up the whole affair if they will restore the jewels.” Deborah was still holding his sleeve with no uncertain grip, and she spoke in a low but very decided tone: “It is not that, but Amos Goodhare has a grudge against you, I am sure of it.” “No reasonable one, I assure you.” By this time the girl was clinging to both his arms, almost struggling with him to prevent his carrying out his purpose. “What does that matter,” she cried, vehemently. “Was a prejudice ever the weaker for being unreasonable? I tell you he saw you and pretended not to, in order to lure you to follow him. You don’t know where he’s gone, and what accomplices he may have waiting in that nest of dirty courts and passages out there. Get police assistance before you try to find him.” “Confound the girl!” muttered Lord St. Austell savagely, as at last, not without the exercise of something like violence, he got partially free from her clinging hands. “You’ve made me miss him!” Deborah let him go at once, with an exclamation of relief. “That’s all right!” He had already got half out of the window, when suddenly he drew back and came to her. She was sitting by the table leaning her head on her hand. “I beg your pardon, Miss Audaer,” said he, most contritely with the ring of sincere feeling in his voice, as he felt in the obscurity for her hand, which she gave him at once. It was cold and trembling. “My dear girl, I hope I have not hurt you--for heaven’s sake, tell me I have not!” he cried with much concern. “No, you have not,” she answered in a hoarse and broken voice. “But I am beginning to feel what you feel--that some dreadful thing is going to happen--that that man’s presence brings harm.” “Well, I choose to think that your presence counteracts it, for you are a good, brave girl. Now, child, I want you to wait here for me, and if Rees should come, use your influence with him. I am going to use mine with Amos.” “You are--really?” “Really. Good-bye for the present.” Deborah was in so excited a state that even the haste with which he added those last three words, “for the present,” seemed to her portentous. She listened with straining ears to the last sound of his footsteps as he trod the uneven stones in the direction Amos had taken.